Former IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria Criticizes Rahul Gandhi's Comments on Agniveer Scheme, Defends Army's Apolitical Stance

In a recent statement, BJP leader and former Indian Air Force chief RKS Bhadauria sharply criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his comments regarding the Agniveer scheme. Bhadauria's remarks came after Gandhi accused Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of lying about the compensation provided to the family of Agniveer Ajay Kumar, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty.

Rahul Gandhi had posted a video on social media featuring Ajay Kumar's father, who claimed that the family had not received any compensation. This post sparked a significant controversy, with Gandhi alleging that the Defence Minister had misled Parliament. In response, the Indian Army issued a clarification, confirming that Rs 98.39 lakh had already been given to Kumar's family, and the total compensation would amount to approximately Rs 1.65 crore.

Bhadauria was unequivocal in his response, asserting that it was incorrect to claim that Rajnath Singh had lied. He emphasized that the majority of the compensation had been paid, with the remaining amount soon to follow. "It's absolutely wrong to claim that Singh's statement was a lie," he stated, underscoring the importance of maintaining the Army's apolitical stance.

The former IAF chief also defended the Agniveer scheme, describing it as a "well thought out scheme" that had been implemented after thorough discussions. He dismissed any doubts about the quality of training provided under the scheme, assuring that soldiers recruited through Agniveer were on par with regular soldiers in every aspect. "They will work during the battle with the same capacity that the regular soldiers would do. Now, they will be our regular soldiers," Bhadauria affirmed.

Bhadauria further appealed to the youth to join the Army under the Agniveer scheme, urging them not to be swayed by misleading claims. He reiterated the emotional and sensitive nature of issues involving the military and stressed the need to keep the Army out of political controversies. "The Army should not be involved in such kind of politics," he insisted.

This incident highlights the ongoing debates and political tussles surrounding the Agniveer scheme, a significant military recruitment initiative. Bhadauria's strong defense of the scheme and his call to keep the Army apolitical resonate with the broader need to safeguard the integrity and honor of India's armed forces amidst political disputes.